Coupling mechanism



New. 16, 1937. E. A. LARssoN 2,099,490

GOUPLING MECHANISM Filed April 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l wwa afa AttorneyE. A. LARSSON COUPLING' MECHANISM Sheets-Shee Filed April 8, 1936Ailorney Patented Nov. 16, 1937 rasant" narrar cerise COUPLING MECHANISMErnst A. Larsson, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company,Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 8, 1936,Serial No. 73,331

'7 Claims.

One object of my invention is to provide means for coupling the fluidpressure and electric lines from car to car.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for holding the fluidpressure and electric couplings in tightly coupled relation andsimultaneously hold the cars in coupled relation.

By reference to fluid pressure lines and cou.- plings therefor, I havein mind air and steam, and the steam may be at ordinary pressure andtemperature, or it may be at very high pressure including what is termedsuper-heated steam which offers greaty dimculty to prevent leakage atthe couplings.

The type of coupler required to properly main' tain the fluid pressureand electric coupler in coupled relation is. one which will havepractically no lost motion between the heads and coupiers of this typeare now in commercial use and known as tight lock or no-slack couplersand may be of the J anney type or what is known as the Miller hook type.

My invention consists in suitable means for connecting the electriccircuits between cars and also connecting the fluid pressure linescomprising steam and air lines and suitable means for 3 holding suchconnecting means in coupled relation as hereinafter set forth andparticularly pointed out' in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a face view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial View on the line 2-2 of Fig; l.

Fig. 3 is a partial View on the line 2-2 of Fig. l showing two iluidpressure and electric coupling devices in coupled relation.

` Fig. l is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l

o through two air and one electric coupling means as later described.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a supported car coupler and suspended therefromthe fluid pressure and electric coupling device.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of one portion of thesteam coupling means shown in section in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the steam n coupling means shownin section in Fig. 3. rO- In the preferred embodiment of my invention Iprovide a mechanical coupling means l which may function to hold thecars in coupled relation as well as to hold the `fluid and electricconnecting ymeans in coupled relation. This coupler is of the 55 tightlock type, that is. when two heads are in proper coupled relation thereis no longitudinal,` vertical or horizontal relative movement of theheads. This will insure the fluid pressure and electric coupling devicesbeing held in coupledl P relation and if the coupling heads 2 are oftheJ anney or Miller hook type, the couplings will beY automatically madewhen the cars are brought: together. Y f

The coupler l is preferably secured to ananchorage 3 by means ofthe-ball and socket attachment 4 thus permitting the coupler to havepractically universal movement, excepting in a longitudinal direction,relative to the car body unless' draft springs are provided. The coupleris further supported by, means of the support 5 which isusuallyspring-mounted .for vertical movement. Both the anchorage 3 andthe support 5 are arranged to be suspended from thecar body C; n

To the mechanical or car coupler l, and preferably below and to the head2 of the car coupler, is detachably secured the fluid pressure andelec-V tric coupling device il and held in position by the.

bolts 1.

The fluid pressure and electric coupler com: 25"

prises a receptacle or enclosing portion pros. vided with detachableside covers 9 held in place by bolts It. The receptacle 8 is providedwith. front openings symmetrically positioned on oppoe site sides of thevertical center line 4-il of Fig. 1 30 and in. each opening is securedan insulatngl block H in which is'mounted electric contactors l2 andyieldingly held in their advanced position by means of the springs 3. Tothe rear end of the yielding contactors rl2 are terminals I4 to whichmay be attached cables extending into the receptacle S through inletsI5.

T'he similarly positioned yielding contactors on the opposite sides ofthe vertical center line 4-4` are as a rule electrically connectedtogether in 40 order that when two cars are coupled, regardless of whichends are coupled, like circuits on adjacent cars will be connected, thatis, contact a will be cross-connected with contact b, and-a' will becross-connected with b',.etc., and these 45 cross-connecting wires maybe carried through the opening i6 connecting the side portions of therecess 8.

On the center line ll-li of Fig. 1 are shown connectors Il and I8 forair, and I9 for an elec- 50- tric circuit known as a bus line. Theconnectorsy Il and l each comprise the tubular member 2l! yieldinglyheld in advanced position by the spring 2l. The member 2!) is mountedinopenings extending through the casing or receptacle spring 35 andwhich seats against a compositionv 8. To the rear end of the tubularmember 29 is screwed a flange fitting 2| which seats against the rearwall of the casing 3 and checks the advance movement of the member 26,andV the member 2I is also threaded at 22 for a pipe or hose connectionto the air line. The front end of the tubular member 20 is provided witha soft rubber gasket 23 which engages with a like gasket on acooperating device.

The bus line connector I9 comprises an insulating sleeve 24 reciprocallymounted through the walls of the casing 8 and also secured to the sleeve24 is a tubular sleeve of insulating material 25. Mounted in the sleeve24 is a metal contactor 26. 'I'he contactor 26 is provided with a bore21 in which the end of a cable passing through the opening 28 may besecured. The contactor is yieldingly held inY its advanced position bymeans of the spring 29. Three other bus line connectors I9 are shown inFig. 1 positioned, however, on opposite sides of the vertical cente line4 4,

In order to connect the steam lines which, as stated previously, is notaltogetherV a simple matter especially in the case where the train linescarry super-heated steam which may be at 35i) lbs. pressure and possibly500 F. temperature, I provide special means.

To the rear Wall of the casing 8 I secure Ya manifold 39 as by means ofbolts 3|.V This manifold 30 crosses between the rear of the connectorsMounted in the casing I'Iand I8 (see Fig. 4). 8 Vand associated with themanifold 38 is a fixed connector F and a movable connector M. When twocarsv are coupled, the connector F on one car engages with the connectorM on the other car and forces the connector M rearwardly against thespring 32 which is designed to exert considerable effort to hold theconnector M in its advanced position. The connector F isimmovable.

'Ihe fixed connector F comprises a tubular sleeve 33 which is preferablyscrew-threaded into the manifold 30 at 30. Reciprocally mounted withinthe casing 33 is a check valve 34 which is yieldingly held inV itsadvanced position by a gasket 36.

I'he check valve 34 is provided with a projecting contact portion 31which engages with a similar projection on the check valve in theconnector M thus opening the checks on both connectors F and M as shownin'Fig. '1. The gasket 36 is held in position by means of the screwcap-38.

The gasket 36 must be of a special material in order to withstand theextremely high pressure and temperature to which it may be subjected. Asoft rubber gasket such as 23 used on the air connectors I'I and I8 willnot do for the steam connectors. The gaskets 36 are found to be mostserviceable when made of a very hard and practically unyieldingcomposition and require rather frequent changing, and the constructionof the screw cap. permits easy and quick renewal of the gasketV 36.. Y

I have found that in a device of the character which I have described,Vincluding the coupler I, and the Severe service to which it issubjected in connection with cars coupled in long trains,

that one is. not justified in relying upon thecoupler heads 2 holdingthe parts in absolutely fixed relation and that due to wear of the partsin making couplings from time to time and the strain on the parts. fromthe heavy loads to which they are subjected, that there is some relative.spring 32.

movement of the casings or receptacles 8; there- Y fore, there will besome movement of the fixed connector F relative to the movable connectorM when in coupled relation. I nd it is necessary to compensate Afor thisrelative movement and do so in the construction of the movable connectorM.

'I'he movable connector M comprises a reciprocating tubular member 39mounted in registering openings extending through the front and rearwalls of the casing 8. It will be noted by referring to Figs. 6 and '7that the tubular member 39 does not make a close sli-ding t in thecasing 9 but that there is considerable Vspace between the casing 8 andthe member 39 which permits of lateral movement of the member 39relative to the casing 8. This is a very important feature I find to thesuccessful operation of the connectors. and the increased life of thegaskets.

The tubular member 39 is screw-threaded into a sleeve 48 which buttsagainst the outer face of the rear Wall of the casing 8, thus limitingtheadvance movement of the connector due to the Since the member 4I] isloose and slidably mounted in the manifold 38, it is necessary toprovide a tight joint therebetween, therefore, I

form a stuing box 4I and a stuffing gland 42 andprovide in the stuffingbox packing 43. This packing is of a more or less yieldable materialand, therefore, does not interfere with the relative movement of theconnector M laterally for adjustment purposes. WhileI have shownclearance between the parts 4D and 42, I find that this is not necessaryin order to make adjustment at the front end of the connector as thelength of bearing surface between the parts 40 and 42 is relativelylimited and does not restrict the said lateral movement.

Mounted within the member 39 is a check valve 44 which seats against thegasket 45. The'rgasket 45 is heldl in position by the screw retainer 46.Projecting forwardly from the check valve 44 is a member 41 arranged toengage with the projection 3'! on the connector F when two heads arecoupled, thus compressing the spring 48 and opening the normally closedpassage through the connector M and also the connector F.

In order to make it possible tov easily and quickly renew the gasket 45and With the use of the least number of tools, I lock'the member 39against rotation by securing the parts 39 and 40 against 'relativeVrotation by means of the set screw 49 and these tWo members areprevented from rotation relative to the casing 8 by means of a dowel pin59 projectingfrom the casing 8 into an opening in the member 49 therebypreventing rotation of the member 39, but not preventing thelongitudinal and lateral movements of the member 39. The member 39 has athreaded opening 5I for connecting thereto the steam line. Y

VThe member 38 on the fixed connector F is provided with a circularflange or lip 52 arranged to rmly engage the gasket 45 on the connectorM and the ydegree of this Yengagement depends upon the' force exerted bythe springs 32 and 35, and is quite heavy due to the severe requirementsinV maintaining the parts against leakage under the-high pressure andtemperature to which they are subjected. The engaging portion of theflange 52 is preferably circular and formed with a denite radiuspermitting a ball and socket action between the parts 52 and 45 due torelative movement,

With the type of coupler 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 7, I provide aprojection 6|! and an opening or recess 6I and a locking knuckle 62whereby on two coupled heads the projection 6l] on each head will intertwith the opening 6| on the coupled head to prevent relative vertical andlateral movement oi" the heads and the knuckles 62 on the coupled headswill interlock to hold the heads against relative longitudinal movement.As p-re- Viously stated, the tendency of the coupled heads Will be tohold the electric and fluid pressure couplers in tightly coupledrelation but on accountl of wear of theparts from continued use, and thesevere strain to which the devices are subjected, there may be atendency for Some slight movement of the electric and fluid pressurecouplers when in coupled re1ation,and for this reason it is veryimportant I find to have the clearance previously .described and shownin Figs. 6 and '7 between the part 39 and the Walls of the receptacle 8.Y

The coupler 2 is also provided With an uncoupling mechanism B3.

The operation of my invention will be clearly understood from thedrawings and the above description, and needs no further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to. secureby Letters Patent iszl. A coupling mechanism to cooperate with a similardevice comprising, a receptacle having ay V front wall and a back wall,tubular fluid pressure connecting means positioned on opposite sides ofthe vertical center line of the front wall and projecting from the frontwall of the receptacle, one connector reciprocally and yieldingly heldin its advanced position and the other oonnector held in xed relation tothe receptacle,

each connector provided with a normally closed check valve, the xedconnector arranged to couple with the movable connector of a counter.-part coupler and effect an opening of the check valves on bothconnectors, a manifold attached to the rear wall of the receptacle andprovided with three openings, means to connect one opening to a fluidtrain line and the other two openings arranged to receive the rear endof the fixed and reciprocating connectors, the free end of thereciprocating connector arranged to move transversely relative to thereceptacle to permit the movable connector and the xed connector coupledthereto to maintain alignment Vshould the receptacles on two coupledheadsy shift relative to each other and means to support the receptaclefrom a car and to cooperate with similar means on a coupled car to holdthe iiuid coupling mechanisms on two cars in coupled relation.

2. A coupling mechanism to cooperate with a counterpart couplingmechanism to connect fluid pressure train line on two coupled carscomprising, a hollow support member having a back Wall and a front wall,tubular fluid connecting means positioned on opposite sides of thevertical center line and equally spaced from the center line andprojecting from the face of the front wall to conduct a fluid from therear of the support member to the front thereof, one connecting meansbeing xed relative to the support member and the other means arranged toreciprocate and having means yieldingly holding it in its advancedposition, each connecting means extending through the support means andhaving `a springheld check valve provided with projecting means to beengaged by like means on the cooperating head to open both valves, amanifold spanning said vertical center line and having one end the otherend spaced from the wall, each end of the manifold having an openinginto which project the rear ends of the tubular fluid connectingmeans,one connecting means mounted in fixed relation to the manifold and theother fluid connecting means being reciprocally mounted relative to themanifold and its front end laterally movable relative to the supportmember and coupling means to support the support member from a car andcooperate with like means on a coupled car to hold the fluid pressureconnecting means on both cars in coupled relation and couple the carsand means for attachment of a uid pressure line to the manifold.

3. A uid pressure connecting device for fluid pressure lines on coupledcars comprising, a support, tubular reciprocating means mounted on thesupport and a spring yieldingly holding the means in its advancedposition,vthe reciprocating means having a lateral movement relative tothe support, a manifold for cross-connecting the reciprocating meanswith other tubularA means mounted on the support, means to preventrotation of the tubular means without preventing its reciprocation andlateral movements, a packed joint between one end of the tubular meansand the manifold, a renewable gasket at the front end of the tubularmeans and a check4 valve in the said means normally held closed by aspring, the gasket arranged to be engaged by the check valve when closedand by the fluid pressure connecting means on a cooperating iiuidpressure connecting device to connect the fluid pressure lines oncoupled cars and to open the check valves in both connecting means andVmeans for connecting a fluid pressure line to the manifold.

4. A uid pressure coupling mechanism comprising, an elongated tubularmember having a blight at o-ne end with an end opening and the memberhaving a side opening at the other end and opening in the same directionas the above` opening and the end of the member adjacent the lastopening closed, a third opening in the member for attaching a fluidpressure line thereto, the rst said opening being internally threaded, atubular connecting means xedly secured in the threaded opening, thesecond said opening provided with means forming a stuffing box, atubular connecting means mounted in said second opening in reciprocatingrelation to the tubular member and movable relative to the first saidtubular connecting means, the tubular connecting means so constructedand arranged relative to each other to engage in butt end contact withlike means on a cooperating coupling mechanism, the first said openinghaving means adjacent thereto to engage with a support and arranged tobe attached thereto.

5. A receptacle for a coupling' mechanism to cooperate with acounterpart mechanism forconnecting the kfluid pressure lines on coupledcars comprising, a hollow member having a front Wall with openingstherein to the interior of the member, a rear wall having openings inalignment with some of the aforesaid openings, the openings arranged toreceive coupling devices, covers detachably secured to the member toclose the ends, a bottom wall and a top wall for the said member, a ductformed as part of the member and positioned above and spanning a portionof said registering openings in the front and rear walls, and means onthe member for attaching it to a support. f

6. A connecting device for a fluid pressure consecured to the outsideface of the back wall and2 nector comprising, a tubular member threadedat the rear end, a support for the tubular member, a sleeve screwthreaded onto the threaded. end and arranged to engage a stop on thesupport, the tubular member having anV enlarged front end, a check valvemounted in the enlargedV end, a gasket mounted in the enlarged end,means to hold the gasket in position to be engaged by the valve and by aconnector on a cooperating device and permit renewal of theggasket, andmeans mounted within the valve to yieldingly hold the check valve in itsclosed position in engagement With the gasket, the enlarged end of thetubular member movable laterally rrelative to the support. Y

'7. A coupling mechanism to cooperatevwith a similar device comprising,a receptacle having a front wall and a back Wall, tubular fluidconnectors positioned on 4opposite sides of the vertical center line ofthe front wall and'one connector projecting from the front Wall of thereceptacle and reciprocally and yieldingly held in its advance positionand the other connector held inV Xed relationto the receptacle, anormally closed check valve associated with each connector, the

fixed connector arranged to cooperate With the movable connector on acounterpart coupler and eiTect an opening of the check valves on bothconnectors, means associated With the rear Wall for cross-connecting thesaid connectors, the cross-connecting means provided with an openingpermitting the ovv of a fluid either into or out of thecross-connectingr means, the reciproeating connector being soconstructed and arranged relative to the receptacle that the front endof the connector is movable transversely relative to the front Wall ofthe receptacle to maintain the front .ends of the fixed and movablecon-l nectors on counterpart couplers in sealed engagement should thereceptacles shift transversely relative to each other and meansy to'support the receptacle from a car and to cooperate with a similar meanson a lcoupled car to hold the fluid coupling mechanisms on thetworcoupled cars in coupled relation. 1

ERNST A. LARSSON.

